Before I begin, I inform the National Assembly that another case of foot and mouth disease has been confirmed in Brynsiencyn on Angelsey. No further details are available, because I have only just received that information. However, that takes the number of confirmed cases in Wales to 25.

It must be emphasised that this outbreak of foot and mouth disease is a fundamental threat to the rural economy of Wales. It is more serious than the outbreak of 1967, because it is more widely spread, more animals have been slaughtered in a shorter space of time, and because, particularly in Wales, the disease has been found in sheep. When it gets into the sheep flock it is much more difficult to eradicate. Moving sheep over long distances has been the key vector in transporting the disease across the UK. The other difficulty that we face is that it is extremely difficult to spot the symptoms of foot and mouth disease in sheep—it is difficult for veterinarians, and even more difficult for farmers. Signs are often transitory. Sheep can be infected and can transmit the virus without showing signs.

Those are the problems that we face. What, therefore, has been done so far? The restriction on livestock movements was introduced immediately. Soon after that, the National Assembly made an Order giving local authorities the power to close footpaths and other areas of land—legislation that originated and was drafted in Wales. I acknowledge the enormous amount of work that has been done by the staff of the State Veterinary Service and the Assembly’s Agriculture Department. At present, approximately 185 staff are working full-time on the foot and mouth disease crisis across Wales, particularly in the Assembly’s divisional offices.

Continuing with the slaughter is a major logistical task. Members should understand that when the disease is identified, infected animals are slaughtered immediately, or the aim is for them to be slaughtered within 24 hours of confirmation of the disease. In all but a handful of cases, that has been done.

I will not take an intervention at this stage. Members will have an opportunity to contribute during the course of the debate.

Before slaughter can take place, animals must be valued. They must then be slaughtered and disposed of. At present, we are working hard to ensure that the time it takes to dispose of carcasses is kept to a minimum. There have been occasions when people have had to wait a few days before carcasses are removed or disposed of. There are three rendering plants in operation in the UK and two more will come on-stream. The number of leak-proof lorries being used to transport carcasses is increasing. Rendering plants will be used to dispose of carcasses, except where it is impossible or impractical to take the carcasses to the rendering plant, in which case, the carcasses must be burned.

As regards Welshpool market, as I have said many times, tracing the animals that went through that market on 19 February is not a reflection on the mart itself. Nevertheless, there are clear links between the animals that went through the mart on that day and animals that have subsequently contracted the virus. It is wrong to say that the proposed cull is a cull of healthy animals. We are talking about a cull of dangerous contacts—animals that pose a major risk of spreading the disease. The farming unions have accepted the rationale for the cull, and I welcome their support. The decision to proceed with the cull is a scientific decision alone. There is no question of political interference. It is entirely a matter for the vets. People are telling farmers in some parts of Wales that this is a political decision, and that the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food’s vets are not to be trusted. I say to those people that, if they are conveying that message to farmers, the disease, not farming, will be the victor. MAFF vets are the most experienced people in the land in terms of dealing with such a disease. I understand people’s feelings about the cull. I understand how difficult it is for farmers in this situation. The veterinarians have considered other ways of trying to deal with the situation. However, time is not on our side. If we do not proceed with the cull, there is a real danger that the disease will spread to the hills. If it does so, the battle is lost.

The future of the industry is at stake. We are more dependant than any other part of the United Kingdom on exports. About 40 per cent of our produce is exported, and the export market is particularly important for lamb. We had good markets in France, Greece and Spain, which we hope to regain. Our objective must be to regain the ability to export as quickly as possible. However, that can only be done if the country is free of the disease. If we were to adopt a vaccination policy, it would automatically prevent us from exporting to other countries in the European Union. It is those countries that represent our best markets, and were responsible for the rise in the price of lamb before this crisis began.

We must not forget that foot and mouth disease is unpleasant for animals. It leads to distress and causes animals to stop producing milk. It causes the death of lambs, and can cause the death of calves. It is not a picnic for them and we must address animal welfare issues. In order to regain the export market, and for animals to remain free of this disease, it is important that we follow an eradication policy. I understand the situation faced by farmers, and I recognise the distress and emotion involved. The CALL service now covers the whole of rural Wales, and is being promoted to farming families. We will only win the battle—and it can still be won—by ensuring co-operation between farmers, other people who live in the countryside and vets. The importance of not moving animals without licences must be stressed. The illegal movement of animals is the easiest way of spreading the disease. This is not a witch-hunt and no-one is pointing the finger at anybody. However, people are aware of such movements in different parts of Wales, and we were only told when it was too late to do anything about it. Please ensure that that does not happen. I also urge people to give the vets their full support because it is they who have the ability to ensure that the day when the disease is eradicated from Wales comes closer and closer.

As far as the rural economy is concerned, you will know that Mike German is attending a meeting of the rural taskforce in London today, to press the case for Wales. As regards tourism, the Wales Tourist Board has launched a communications campaign to correct misinformation on the position in Wales. Its website has an updated list of attractions that are open in Wales and, when the time is right, it will launch a major advertising campaign to promote Wales. The Deputy First Minister has written to banks about ways that they can help businesses, and will meet with them tomorrow, along with insurance companies and mortgage lenders, to discuss the issue. A number of other measures are under consideration, at a UK and Welsh level, to help farmers and rural businesses. We must recognise that the situation is very bad, and extraordinary measures are needed for it to be rectified.

I announced last week, ahead of England, that I would review the issue of access to the countryside. A review took place last Friday, and guidance, based solely on veterinary advice, was published at 11 a.m. today and was sent to local authorities. The top priority remains to control the disease, and the message to local authorities is that footpaths within infected areas should remain closed. However, elsewhere, local authorities can use their discretion, based on the National Assembly’s detailed guidance. Local authorities will also have access to veterinary advice so that any questions they may have are answered by vets.

In conclusion, foot and mouth disease has emphasised the importance of farming to the economy of Wales. However, we must not lose sight of the fact that, despite the difficulties faced by farming and the current situation caused by foot and mouth disease, we must continue to work in the knowledge that there is a future for Welsh farming. If we lose sight of that and give up, farming will be doomed. I do not believe that. When the foot and mouth situation improves, there will be a hard job ahead, but we must all be up to it.

Cynigiaf welliant 2. Ychwaneger ar ddiwedd y cynnig

Cynigiaf welliant 3. Ychwaneger ar ddiwedd y cynnig

Cynigiaf welliant 4. Ychwaneger ar ddiwedd y cynnig

Cynigiaf welliant 5. Ychwaneger ar ddiwedd y cynnig

Croesawaf y ddadl hon ar glwy’r traed a’r genau. Mantais dadl lawn dros ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog yw fod gan y gwrthbleidiau hawl i gyflwyno gwelliannau ac y cynhelir pleidlais ar ddiwedd y ddadl. Synnaf, felly, i’r Torïaid, a oedd mor frwd dros gynnal dadl yr wythnos diwethaf, benderfynu peidio â chyflwyno gwelliannau a fyddai’n sicrhau pleidlais ar eu safbwyntiau hwy. Mae hynny’n awgrymu eu bod yn ymgymryd â gwleidyddiaeth ystumiau yr wythnos diwethaf, a bod datganiad i’r wasg yn bwysicach na sylwedd a phroses y ddadl ar glwy’r traed a’r genau.

Wrth gynnal y ddadl hon heddiw, mae’n bwysig ein bod yn anfon neges, fel Cynulliad unedig, i’n cymunedau ein bod yn cydnabod yr argyfwng aruthrol sydd yn wynebu amaethyddiaeth yng Nghymru a’r economi wledig ehangach yn sgîl clwy’r traed a’r genau. Bydd cefnogaeth unfrydol y Cynulliad i welliant 1 yn profi ein cydnabyddiaeth.

Yr ydym oll yn ymwybodol o effeithiau brawychus y clwyf hwn a’i effaith ddinistriol ar ffermydd heintiedig sydd yn wynebu difa anifeiliaid, ac ar ffermwyr sydd yn cael eu gorfodi i ŵyna a lloia oddi cartref neu a fydd yn wynebu prisiau is am eu cynnyrch. Gwyddom hefyd am effaith y clwyf ar y diwydiant twristiaeth a hamdden, yn y sectorau preifat a gwirfoddol, sydd yn wynebu colledion sylweddol na all eu cynnal hyd yn oed yn y tymor byr. Er fod yr effeithiau yn treiddio i bob cwr o’r economi wledig, yr angen mwyaf yn awr yw i ddod â’r clwyf o dan reolaeth. I sicrhau hynny, rhaid i ni, fel gwleidyddion, ffermwyr a phobl fusnes ddilyn y cyngor gwyddonol. Dim ond ar sail wyddonol y dylid penderfynu difa anifeiliaid iach, a dim ond ar sail wyddonol y dylid gwrthwynebu hynny. Mae ymdrechion rhai ffermwyr, o dan arweiniad David Handley, i wrthwynebu difa mewn rhai ardaloedd, yn wrthgynhyrchiol.

Ni all nifer o ffermwyr, nac ambell wleidydd sgeptig fel fi, ddeall pam ei bod yn wyddonol angenrheidiol yn awr i ddifa anifeiliaid nad ydynt wedi’u heintio er mwyn atal lledaenu’r clwyf, gan nad oedd yn wyddonol angenrheidiol gwneud hynny bythefnos neu dair wythnos yn ôl. Mae’n holl bwysig, felly, y gwneir pob ymdrech i sicrhau bod ffermwyr sydd yn wynebu gorfod difa stoc iach yn cael eglurhad llawn pam y mae’r difa yn angenrheidiol. Siaredais y bore yma â ffermwr yng Ngheredigion sydd yn wynebu difa 350 o ddefaid oherwydd iddo dreulio hanner awr ym marchnad y Trallwng ar 19 Chwefror. Mae’r ffermwr hwn yn ddyn call a chyfrifol, ond nid oedd yn argyhoeddiedig fod angen difa ei stoc. Rhaid i’r milfeddygon sydd yn cynrychioli’r Cynulliad egluro’r holl resymau dros y difa i ffermwyr fel eu bod yn deall y sefyllfa. Byddai hynny’n sicrhau na fyddai eithafiaeth rhywun fel David Handley yn elwa ar ansicrwydd a diffyg gwybodaeth rhai ffermwyr. Dyna yw pwrpas gwelliant 4.

Gallem fod wedi llunio 20 neu 30 o welliannau manwl i’r cynnig ar gyfer y ddadl hon, ond penderfynasom eu cyfyngu i egwyddorion mwy cyffredinol i ddenu cefnogaeth drawsbleidiol. Efallai fy mod yn mentro braidd wrth ddisgwyl y fath gefnogaeth i welliant 3.

Yr oedd ymdrechion yr wythnos diwethaf i sefydlu tasglu Michael Meacher, ac i benderfynu a ddylai Cymru fod yn rhan o’r tasglu hwnnw neu sefydlu tasglu ei hun, yn gawl potsh. Yr oedd barn Llywodraeth San Steffan a’r Cynulliad ar y mater yn newid bron bob dydd. Efallai y bydd yn anodd i’r Llywodraeth glymblaid gefnogi gwelliant 3, ond yr wyf yn hyderus y bydd, yn breifat, yn cydnabod cawdel yr wythnos diwethaf wrth sefydlu’r gwahanol dasgluoedd.

Mae gwelliant 2 yn amlinellu safbwynt Plaid Cymru ynghylch creu cynllun gweithredu a’i gostio’n llawn. Byddai cynllun gweithredu o’r fath yn cynnwys mesurau a fyddai yn gyntaf yn mynd i’r afael â digolledu busnesau amaethyddol, twristiaeth a hamdden sydd yn dioddef yn sgîl y clwyf, oherwydd colledion incwm sylweddol a cholli swyddi. Yn ail, byddai’n cynnwys mesurau i adfer yr economi wledig unwaith y byddai gafael y clwyf wedi llacio.

I declare an interest as a farmer. I acknowledge the work of all parties during the crisis so far, and I pay tribute to the Minister, who has done an admirable job in the face of a big crisis in Wales. I also mention the work of the farming unions in trying to alleviate the pressure placed on people due to the lack of information in some cases, and often because the nature of the disease is not understood. Our rural communities have been profoundly demoralised by this crisis, which has eaten into the heart of the economic and social life of our rural businesses. It is important that we pull together because we need to set an example to the families at the heart of this crisis. However, that does not mean that we should not ask questions about the source of information or lack of information.

The Liberal Democrats welcome last week’s statements, and made a commitment to the establishment of a taskforce. I do not appreciate the use of the word ‘shambolic’ in amendment 3. We must ensure that we ask constructive questions and give our support to the taskforce. I look forward to its deliberations and hope that it will announce business rate holidays, VAT holidays and that the meetings with the Minister for Economic Development will lead to a more sympathetic approach from banks. The taskforce needs to go further in its deliberations because some areas of Wales are suffering a double-whammy, due to the foot and mouth disease crisis accompanied by high unemployment, without the European structural funds that Objective 1 areas will receive. That is the case in the east of Wales, especially in my constituency, Montgomeryshire, where there is competition from the English counties for regional selective assistance.

Given that background, I welcome the fact that the Minister has, at long last, sent a letter to producers. I assume, therefore, that the internet is no longer good enough. In the Minister’s closing remarks, I would like to hear why he has changed his mind about the possibility that postmen could spread the disease. In the letter, the Minister points out that some signs of the disease are easy to miss. We have discussed an incubation period of 40 days, and 21 days. Can you confirm that this remains the case as regards sheep, or do you have evidence that the incubation period is suspected to be longer than 21 days?

Your letter, as does your statement, refers to Welshpool market. Have you, therefore, written to all the producers outside Powys who attended Welshpool market on that day? How many sheep will be culled and do you have the resources to deal with them? As has been graphically illustrated in Cumbria, it is difficult to deal with a problem that you do not understand. The status of farms after a cull of sheep is also a cause for concern, which I hope you will address in your final remarks.

With regard to the disposal of carcasses, why are some of our local skills being overlooked? There are examples in my local community of auctioneers not being used to value stock and local contractors not being used to clean up the farms and dispose of feedstuff and so on. Will you state that we have a policy of putting at least some money back into the local community?

I have also received many complaints from farmers about the problems of tack and of the stock that they are now trying to fatten on the farm. A massive welfare problem is building up with the pigs, lambs and cattle that farmers cannot sell. When will you announce a compensation package, so that the terrible welfare problems on many farms can be relieved?

Looking to the future, I am pleased that the army has been brought in to help. However, will you confirm that it will not be used to enforce Government actions, and that only the police force will be used to enforce law and order? Will you bring forward proposals to reduce the import of New Zealand lamb, so that Welsh farmers have a strong market for Welsh lambs?

I will address some points made by Elin Jones. I understand the need to divert attention away from difficulties in her party. The Welsh Conservatives debated at some length whether to table amendments to the motion, but decided that tabling many amendments would only result in much time being spent on votes, leaving less time for the debate. If Plaid Cymru wants to table amendments, fine. I do not question Plaid Cymru’s motives, so do not question ours.

We should be debating the serious foot and mouth situation and the taskforce. The taskforce has such a chequered history that it is hard to know the current situation. It started off as an England-only taskforce. Wales was not to have its own taskforce, as the administration in the Assembly told us that we were too small a country. The taskforce then changed into a Westminster taskforce, therefore David Hanson represented Wales on it. It was then felt that Wales needed a presence from the National Assembly, so a civil servant was granted observer status. The latest situation is that Mike German will be part of the taskforce. I do not think that Michael Meacher and Mike German are the right people to inspire confidence across the board in our communities. They are not the people needed to ensure action and progress. We must revisit this. Will we have our own taskforce, working alongside the Westminster taskforce? That is what we need.

We should ensure that we have concerted action between this administration and Westminster. This virus knows no boundaries, so we must have a concerted approach across the whole of the UK. From what has been said so far, I am not satisfied that that is happening.

As I have indicated previously, the First Minister should make a statement on this. He always looks surprised—he does now—when I say that he should take some action. It is what I call his ‘floods look’. His reaction was the same during the recent floods and during the fuel crisis. A serious crisis faces Wales and that needs a lead and concerted action. It demands that the First Minister make a statement this afternoon on how he will move this forward. I will not venture any personal criticism of Carwyn Jones, who has done a good job in difficult circumstances. However, this does not involve agriculture only. It also involves sporting fixtures. Cardiff City football supporters travelled to Carlisle this week. That is madness and it should not be happening. Who is speaking for the administration on these issues? We need concerted action.

We also need to know the situation as regards footpaths. I am deeply uneasy about footpaths being reopened if there is any danger of this virus being spread. They should not be reopened, and we should not be sending out messages to the contrary. We also need a statement on financial assistance. Although a statement has been made in Westminster, it has been denied that there will be financial assistance in Wales. Mike German told the Assembly that there is not any prospect of compensation for tourism businesses. I hope that that is not right, as compensation will be available in England. To give an example from my own constituency, a hotel in Llandrindod Wells has already lost £45,000 in income during this crisis. In the next several weeks, it is set to lose a further £65,000. That money would have gone into the local community and been invested in local businesses. Nothing could better illustrate the effect that this is having across the board and on the whole of rural Wales. However good Carwyn Jones is, he cannot speak on these issues and as Mike German refuses to speak on them, the First Minister must take a lead before it is too late. I hope that he will speak in this debate and send out a clear message to Wales on the way ahead. We need co-ordinated action from this National Assembly alongside Westminster to ensure a concerted approach throughout the United Kingdom. It is an issue that cuts across all the policies that the Assembly has discussed since its establishment.

I could mention many smaller issues. I say ‘smaller’, but they are important issues. For example, we must consider the involvement of the army. I know that Westminster is doing so. Once this dreadful virus has been diagnosed in livestock, if we do not act swiftly enough, it is spread. The army could help in that regard. We also need to improve communication. I am concerned, like Mick Bates, about the flip-flop on communicating with farmers. If we are discouraging the delivery of post to farms, is this measure sensible? We must consider that. However, above all, we lack leadership from the highest level. That is not a criticism of the Minister for Rural Affairs, but we must have a concerted approach alongside Westminster.

Farmers in east Carmarthen were concerned because the Royal Mail objected to the disinfectant-soaked straw at their farm gates. I understand that there was concern about whether it posed a fire hazard. However, this morning, a Royal Mail representative reversed that decision. I was pleased to hear that. Now farmers in that area will not be prevented from doing what I consider to be the bare minimum to protect their livestock. However, if this is correct—because this is, of course, anecdotal—will you ensure that farmers are not hampered in this way again?

I support the way that you are setting up the Wales-wide rural taskforce. It is important that representatives from the Rural Partnership are involved, because their experience is immense, certainly greater than that of anyone in this Chamber. We heard that Mike German is attending the UK-wide taskforce in London today. We can argue the toss about the process of setting up that taskforce until the cows come home. However, I hope that Mike German conveys the message that the whole of rural Wales will need help to recover from this crisis. I am pleased that Wales will be represented at the UK table, not only during this epidemic—and I hope, along with the rest of Wales, that it is a short time—but afterwards, because tourism, agriculture and the wider rural economy of Wales demands and deserves that.

I was a child during the foot and mouth epidemic in 1967. The nearest natural tragedy that I have witnessed as an adult was the Sea Empress disaster six years ago. At that time, local authorities, the Wales Tourist Board, businesses and individuals came together to turn that tragedy around. It can be done. The post-disaster work, in scientific and business terms, is ongoing. I hope that after this epidemic, some hard-nosed scientific work can be carried out on the modern food chain. One message to come out of this crisis is that we need more local abattoirs. That is important for animal welfare reasons, but mainly for the welfare of farming.

Yr wyf innau am gydnabod cyfraniad Carwyn Jones yn ystod yr argyfwng presennol. Mae ei gyfraniadau, ar y cyfan, wedi bod yn awdurdodol a phwyllog. Fodd bynnag, nid yw hynny’n wir am rai o’r datganiadau a ddaeth o San Steffan, yn enwedig datganiad Nick Brown a ddywedodd fod clwy’r traed a’r genau dan reolaeth. Cafwyd gwrthdaro a gwrthddweud hefyd rhwng yr amrywiol adrannau yn San Steffan. Yr oeddwn yn falch, felly, o glywed Carwyn yn cydnabod ein bod yn wynebu sefyllfa sydd yn bygwth yr economi wledig. Yn y cyd-destun hwnnw, gofynnaf gyfres o gwestiynau i Carwyn, o fewn yr amser cyfyngedig sydd ar gael ar gyfer y drafodaeth hon.

Mae fy nghwestiwn cyntaf yn ymwneud â’r argyfwng sydd yn ein hwynebu o ran lles anifeiliaid. Beth y mae Carwyn yn bwriadu ei wneud o ran cysondeb ac o ran sicrhau sefyllfa defaid ar dac ac anifeiliad y mae angen eu symud o ffermydd? A oes gennych griteria penodol bellach y gallwch eu cyflwyno fel y bo ffermwyr yn glir ynglŷn â’r hyn y gellir ei wneud?

Cyfeiriaf at fart Y Trallwng a’r sefyllfa a gododd ar 19 Chwefror. Yn eich cyflwyniad, sonioch am gysylltiadau rhwng y mart ac achosion o glwy’r traed a’r genau—‘links’ oedd y gair a ddefnyddioch. A ydych yn sôn am fwy nag un achos a brofwyd yn ddiwrthwynebiad gan wyddonwyr, neu ai am un achos penodol y soniwch? Yn y cyd-destun hwnnw hefyd, sonioch am yr angen i ddifa anifeiliad. A allwch ddweud faint yn union o ddefaid, neu roi amcangyfrif o faint o ddefaid y bydd angen eu difa er mwyn sicrhau’r diogelwch y soniwch amdano. Cododd Elin Jones y cwestiwn pam yr ydym yn sôn am hyn yn awr. Yr oedd mwy o angen, yn wyddonol, i ddifa’r anifeiliad bythefnos neu dair wythnos yn ôl. Pam na wnaethom drafod hyn bryd hynny?

O ran brechu, a ydych yn dweud nad ydych yn barod i’w ystyried o gwbl? Derbyniaf yr hyn a ddywedwch am allforio, ond yr oeddech yn sôn am yr argyfwng. Pe bai’n datblygu’n argyfwng gwirioneddol, a fyddech yn parhau i ymwrthod â brechu? Yr wyf yn siŵr eich bod yn cydnabod y broblem o ran twristiaeth a’r economi wledig. A wnewch chi bwyso ar Mike German i baratoi cynllun ar gyfer Cymru gyfan a fydd yn sicrhau y caiff yr economi wledig ei diogelu ac y gallwn wynebu’r cyfnod allweddol hwn?

Cymeradwyaf innau hefyd y ffordd awdurdodol a chyfrifol y mae’r Gweinidog a’i swyddogion—yn y Cynulliad, ac yn y swyddfeydd rhanbarthol—yn delio â’r argyfwng sydd yn wynebu cefn gwlad Cymru. Estynnaf fy nghydymdeimlad â Mick Bates, Glyn Davies, Peter Rogers, a’u teuluoedd sydd yng nghanol y sefyllfa ddifrifol hon.

Mae’r Llywodraeth yn mynd ati ddydd a nos i ddelio â’r argyfwng yn y ffordd fwyaf effeithiol posibl, mewn amgylchiadau anodd a thruenus ar adegau, a chan ddilyn yn union y cyngor gwyddonol gorau sydd ar gael. Mae’r undebau amaethyddol yng Nghymru, ynghyd â’n partneriaid yng ngwledydd eraill Ewrop, sydd yn gwylio’r sefyllfa ym Mhrydain yn ofalus, yn gwbl gefnogol i’r camau y mae’r Llywodraeth Lafur yn eu cymryd i ymateb i’r clefyd. Mae’r mesurau sydd ar waith ym Mhowys yn llym ac yn boenus, ond maent yn hollol angenrheidiol. Mae’r mesurau yn Cumbria yn fwy llym byth, ond mae’n rhaid inni ladd y clwyf. Nid oes gennym ddewis ond gweithredu’r mesurau llym hyn os ydym am osgoi lledaenu’r clwyf ymhellach. Os na wnawn hyn, ac os yw’r clwyf yn ymestyn i’r stoc defaid mynydd, bydd yn amhosibl i’w reoli a’i gyfyngu. Bydd yr effaith ar yr economi wledig yn arswydus. Gallai 10,000 i 15,000 o fusnesau bach drwy Gymru gyfan fynd i’r wal pe bai hynny’n digwydd. Gadewch inni, felly, anfon neges glir i ffermwyr bod yn rhaid iddynt gydymffurfio â’r mesurau er mwyn diogelu dyfodol i’w diwydiant.

Ochr yn ochr â hyn mae problemau difrifol y diwydiant twristiaeth, a’r cannoedd o fusnesau bach ar draws Cymru sydd yn dibynnu ar dwristiaeth. Pwysaf ar y Gweinidog dros Faterion Gwledig a Dirprwy Brif Weinidog Cymru a’r Gweinidog dros Ddatblygu Economaidd i sicrhau y caiff pob cymorth posibl ei gynnig i helpu’r diwydiant twristiaeth drwy’r cyfnod anodd hwn, ynghyd â mesurau tymor hir i gryfhau’r economi wledig yn ei chyfanrwydd, wedi inni ddod â chlwy’r traed a’r genau dan reolaeth.

I will keep my comments as brief as possible. I express a concern that has been raised with me about the spread of the disease and how it could be contained from spreading to areas that are not suffering from the disease at present. We call for guidance from the Minister for Rural Affairs. We are grateful for the support that he has given to every Member who has spoken to him privately and for his expressions of support in the Chamber.

Several areas are free from contamination. The areas that come to mind are places such as the Vale of Glamorgan and the Gower Peninsula, which have a small number of access roads. A number of farmers from those parts of Wales have contacted me to express concern about hauliers, and so on, who travel the length and breadth of the country and return to their localities, potentially spreading the disease. The prospect of placing disinfectant ramps on roads that lead to relatively confined rural spaces has been raised. I seek guidance from the Minister as to whether that is a possibility. The right for sheep and other animals to roam freely on common land has also been discussed in the Chamber. However, it often leads to confusion with animals from different farms mixing together. Will the Minister provide guidance on the action that farmers can take in that respect?

Easter is the peak season for many tourist operators. At this time of year, Wales probably recruits up to 12,000 jobs in seasonal vacancies. Those jobs are now under threat because of the outbreak of the foot and mouth disease. I am disappointed, Minister, that you have delegated so much of the responsibility for this to local authorities. The last thing that tourism operators need is 22 different strategies by local authorities on how to foster tourism in the face of this crisis. Is it possible that the regional economic forums could take some action to organise a co-ordinated approach on a regional basis? This is a serious matter for the economy. Everyone is aware of the problems faced by the farming industry before this crisis. We are now also aware of problems in the tourism industry. This disease has an impact on many industries, I mentioned hauliers and the impact—

In Brecon and Radnorshire, agriculture and tourism live cheek by jowl. It is almost beyond belief that, following the lean years that agriculture and tourism enjoyed, which were caused by problems such as the strength of the pound, we have now been struck down by foot and mouth. With every phone call I receive, it is with a heavy heart that I listen to stories of businesses in both sectors that will be staring into an abyss if this disease is not brought under control quickly. We have talked a great deal about the current situation and what needs to be done to bring the disease under control. However, I will concentrate my remarks on why the outbreak occurred. It was not the fault of Welsh or British agriculture. The devastation to my constituency was caused by imported infected meat. What will the Minister and the Government in London do to prevent this from ever happening again? What are they going to do to ensure that meat from countries that have suffered recent foot and mouth outbreaks is not brought into ports throughout Wales and England to put our home-grown industries at risk? What steps does the Minister intend to take when this outbreak is brought under control? I am confident that the steps that he and Nick Brown are outlining will bring it under control. We must have confidence in the scientific advice that we are receiving and we must heed that advice, no matter how hard, gutting or painful it might be for many of us who work in the industry and live in the countryside.

What you are going to do, Carwyn, to regain the lost markets and protect our industry? When are we going to stop importing meat that has not been produced to the same standards to which our farmers must produce it? When are you going to protect our homegrown products instead of allowing our industries to be hammered by cheap, inferior imports?

Mae twristiaeth ac amaethyddiaeth yn ddau o gonglfeini fy etholaeth. Mae twristiaeth Eryri yn gysylltiedig â gweithgareddau awyr agored, megis cerdded ar y bryniau, dringo mynyddoedd a chanwïo ar ein hafonydd a nentydd. Dyma’r adeg o’r flwyddyn pryd y disgwylir i’r tymor newydd flodeuo. Mae’r Pasg yn gyfnod tyngedfennol ac mae’r clwyf hwn wedi taro ar yr adeg waethaf. Dyma enghreifftiau o’i ergydion: yn Llanberis, wrth odre’r Wyddfa, mae tua 200 o weithwyr bellach wedi eu hatal rhag gweithio, ac ym Meddgelert mae 14 o fusnesau wedi cau ac 80 o weithwyr wedi eu hatal rhag gweithio. Mae 143 o ganolfannau gweithgareddau awyr agored yng Nghymru, sydd yn cyflogi 6,000 o bobl ac sydd dan fygythiad. Ceir patrwm cyffelyb ledled Cymru. Mae Bwrdd Croeso Cymru yn amcangyfrif bod y sector twristiaid yn awr yn colli £10 miliwn yr wythnos, ac y bydd yn colli £20 miliwn yr wythnos o fewn y mis. Mae sawl cam y mae eisiau eu cymryd ar fyrder i ymdrin â’r sefyllfa.

Steps must be taken urgently. Far greater clarity must be given about which activities must be closed and those that can remain open safely. It is difficult to understand that activities in centres such as the Electric Mountain Centre or the slate museum in Llanberis need to be closed. I cannot understand why fenced-off cycle tracks need to be closed, or why certain beaches or slipways are closed, when they could easily be fenced off from contact with animals. There are certain rock-climbing areas, such as those in quarries, where it is possible to have access without danger. In Fort William it has been possible to keep areas for walks open, subject to certain controls.

There was no need to cancel some of the concerts and cultural events that have been cancelled, provided that adequate precautions are taken. It should be possible to negotiate to see if the National Trust and the Forestry Commission can reopen some of their land, again subject to necessary safeguards. It is essential that this work is undertaken quickly and that councils know exactly where they stand on these matters. There is also a need for financial redress and a business-rates relief scheme for tourist-related and agricultural-related businesses. It should not depend on Section 49 of the Local Government Act 1988, which is cumbersome and bureaucratic, for a clear-cut scheme giving a business relief for the coming year, funded by the Treasury. There is also a need for an interest-free loan scheme to help these businesses’ cashflow to ensure that they survive. There should be changes in housing benefit and council tax benefit to help tenant farmers, which should be based on four or eight-week periods and not the current extended periods. Thirdly, there needs to be a massive marketing campaign to re-launch Wales as a tourist destination when this crisis is over. The Wales Tourist Board will need nearly £5 million for that to happen. I urge the Government to act on these proposals.

Clwyd West earns its living through agriculture and tourism, or to be more precise, it earned its living through agriculture and tourism. Thankfully it has had no cases of this ghastly disease, but many of the people that I represent are suffering substantial economic losses, and considerable personal distress.

Passing through the rural part of my constituency yesterday I observed that farming is under siege. With disinfectant troughs at the farm gates and ‘keep out’ signs everywhere, life in the Clwydian hills is far from normal. However, I was worried to see sheep walking along the A525 south of Llansannan yesterday.

A farmer and a vet came to see me in my constituency office in Abergele yesterday afternoon. The farmer had worked the land since before I was born and had vivid memories of the 1967 outbreak. The vet brought her scientific expertise to bear on the local situation. They were unanimous. They told me that the transport of live sheep from Scotland, through Dumfries and Galloway on the A76, along the edge of Cumbria on the M6 to be slaughtered in the St Asaph abattoir just outside my constituency boundary is not a good idea at the best of times, but in the current situation they believe it is most unwise. If we are to beat this disease, the unnecessary movement of animals over hundreds of miles through areas that could be infected as a result must be halted. It makes no sense to needlessly increase exposure and we should use local abattoirs where possible.

Agriculture plays a crucial role in the rural economy, but it is not the most economically significant. The Moel Famau range is in the east of my constituency and is the Clwydian area of outstanding natural beauty. It is a popular area for visitors and locals, positioned on the Offa’s dyke footpath. Thousands would normally visit it at Easter, but today it is closed and sealed off. The Colwyn Bay Mountain Zoo is at the other end of my constituency. It is closed today, as it has been for the last two weeks, but I am pleased to report that it will reopen on Thursday. The zoo has reported a loss of £12,000 so far as a direct, provable consequence of this outbreak. The losses were piling up to the extent that the zoo, which is not only a prime visitor attraction, but the pre-eminent national zoological resource for Wales, was in danger of never reopening. I stress that the decision to reopen is not a wild gamble, but was made after a detailed risk assessment. We must adopt that approach across Wales.

I have been parochial so far, Llywydd, but I will conclude by looking at a sector that employs more people in Wales than the steel industry, namely the outdoor education and recreation sector. The more formal business of outdoor recreation is based at 200 centres in north Wales with 5,000 bed spaces—

The clock starts ticking now, so I will speak quickly. In the initial weeks of this emerging crisis, the main focus, quite properly, was on agriculture. As the crisis deepened, we began discussing its devastating effect on tourism and what the Assembly could do to address that. However, I will highlight another enormous problem in north Wales that has not yet been addressed, namely that which is facing Llysfasi College. It is a further education college based outside Rhuthin, which offers a range of agricultural and other land-based courses. What makes Llysfasi unique and compounds its problems is that it is also a working farm, which means that it has been closed to students for the last month and remains closed. That is having a huge impact on the college’s capacity to deliver existing courses and plan new programmes. Unless a support package is put in place, the current crisis will have an even greater effect on this year’s and future years’ courses. What does that mean to students and staff at the college? The suspension of courses has greatly damaged and perhaps ruled out the possibility of many of this year’s students finishing their courses and progressing to higher education in September. Having to spend an extra year at the college will impact on the rest of their lives.

Key skill examinations were scheduled for next week and the next series of exams will not take place until July. The college has developed self-study modules to enable students to study at home, but that is proving difficult for students and the remote tutors. When and if the courses restart, many students will probably have lost impetus, or have found employment and will not return to their studies. The media coverage of the crisis will have damaged agriculture’s image and put off many potential students. Negative reporting does little to promote careers in the countryside. All that means that student numbers next year and in the future are likely to be reduced. As funding is generated on a per head, per college learning unit basis, that will have severe funding implications for this college and for other rural colleges.

I hope that the Further Education Funding Council for Wales will recognise these factors, which are outside Llysfasi College’s control, when it reviews the performance of the further education sector. All of these problems are further compounded by the changes that are currently taking place in the further education sector in Wales. The funding council will end its duty at the end of the financial year—less than two weeks away—when ELWa takes over. The transitional period would have been complicated enough, but given the current crisis, the changeover in the funding source could be a disaster for the colleges that serve the rural areas of Wales.

I am aware that representation has been made to FEFCW, and I ask that the First Minister and Jane Davidson ensure that neither the students nor Llysfasi College are disadvantaged at this time of crisis in our farming and rural communities. I also ask that extra support be offered as we look to the resumption of normal activities in the countryside.

I apologise for speaking so quickly, but I was determined to finish my speech.

During the foot and mouth epidemic in 1967, more than 30,000 livestock were culled in Flintshire. Fortunately, that county has remained clear so far, despite the growing seriousness of the situation in Anglesey. I represent Delyn, a rural constituency. We are holding our breath and praying that the destroyer will pass over us. However, Delyn is on the main route from Anglesey to the English motorway network, and it is worrying that, given the volume of traffic, it could be the next victim.

Carwyn was right to warn of the danger of the unlicensed movement of animals. That is a serious problem.

Many months ago, sheep and dairy farmers in my constituency invited me to their farms and gave me a good insight into the ways of rural life. It was not completely unknown to me; I come from rural Norfolk. Norwich has a wonderful cattle market, and my first date was with a young farmer. I have the greatest sympathy for the rural community. I am also sad about what is happening to tourism. That is under the cosh, as are other small businesses such as blacksmiths, who shoe horses. The small businesses are in just as much danger and as much in need of help.

What has happened to the wonderful policy of having large abattoirs and of big being best and beautiful, which has resulted in all these animals travelling long distances? What has happened to the vets, the checks and the red tape? What has all that come to now? As has been said, when this disease is under control—as it will be, however bleak the outlook is now—it must lead to a root and branch review of how we produce our food. Every opportunity must be given to those who are suffering so severely to have their say. There must be no fudging of what needs to be done, however costly, to achieve a safe, welfare-friendly and decent living for our rural communities. Money is available, although we probably do not have enough in the Assembly’s coffers. It is important that Carwyn makes strong representations to Westminster to ensure that farmers in Wales receive the same treatment as those in England. It is also essential to ensure that funds are available for tourism and all the small traders and businesses that have been dragged unwittingly into poverty as a result of foot and mouth disease. We must not spare the cash to ensure that the countryside is back on course soon.

Elin Jones’s opening remarks were unworthy of her. I will say no more on that.

During the 22 months that I have served as an Assembly Member, the most shocking announcement that I have heard was that made by the Minister for Rural Affairs last Thursday, when he stated that the sheep present at Welshpool livestock market on 19 February were to be slaughtered, as were all animals with which they had come into contact. As I heard those words fall from his lips, I knew that it meant the slaughter of perhaps 100,000 sheep and several thousand cattle. On Friday morning, the Assembly’s message remained the same. However, I am grateful that, by the afternoon, the Minister had stated that cattle would not be included in the slaughter, at least not automatically.

However, the announcement is still shocking. We still do not know exactly how many sheep will be identified as dangerous contacts. I know of one man who took sheep from Welshpool on 19 February who has 12,000 sheep. There are many others who own thousands of sheep. The scale of the slaughter will be heartbreaking and breathtaking.

From the first day of this outbreak, 20 February, I have predicted that what has happened would happen. I admit to being an extremist about how Britain should have reacted. We did not act radically or quickly enough.

During my previous brief contributions to the Assembly on this issue, I have sought to draw on and convey to the Assembly my experience of the 1967 outbreak, of how the agricultural industry works and of work on rural development. Rural Britain is facing an economic disaster, the sheer scale of which we cannot yet assess. When I disagree with the Minister on some points, I discuss them with him and put my suggestions to the Government. However, we must work together on this. The people who are forced to watch helplessly as their livestock and their lifetime’s work fall away before their eyes want a constructive approach.

I want the Government to do more to communicate. I will speak specifically about Welshpool. The Minister for Rural Affairs, the Chief Veterinary Officer or the First Minister should visit Welshpool, armed with scientific reasons for the mass slaughter of perhaps 100,000 sheep. One of the three must explain why it is believed that the market held in Welshpool on 19 February brought the disease to Montgomeryshire. I would never ask the Minister to ignore scientific advice, and I would never ignore it myself. However, when the impact is as great as this, that advice must be fully explained. The letter sent out by the Minister today is insufficient to do that. I want him to tell us that this mass slaughter will be carried out with common sense and reason. Are we really going to slaughter 1,400 breeding ewes because of one cade lamb? Are we really going to wipe out bloodlines that go back generations without careful thought? I expect him to answer ‘no’ to those two questions.

There is a desperate position of animals on tack. Others have spoken of it. There is an equally desperate position of farmers and animals trapped within infected areas without food or answers. A decision must be taken on these issues as soon as possible. People are desperate for answers.

We must also consider the future of the rural economy. This issue is much wider than agriculture. This is a UK issue and there will have to be a UK response. However, this will not be enough in Wales. The Wales that I know best is rural Wales, which is in deep trouble. The Assembly must respond specifically in Wales. If it does not, rural Wales will ask, ‘What is the National Assembly for?’ I will find it incomprehensible if the Government does not come forward with at least some adjustment to its budget plans. I will also find it incomprehensible if the Westminster Government does not use a large part of its huge current surplus to repair the massive damage that has been wrought upon the rural economy.

Most of all, we must have leadership in the National Assembly from the First Minister. Since you assumed your position as First Minister, I have sometimes been less than generous in the comments that I have made to you and about you. However, this is your chance. Rural Wales is looking to you for real leadership. The hour has come, but will the man?

Yn gyntaf, diolchaf i Weithrediaeth y Cynulliad am gytuno i ganiatáu amser i gynnal y ddadl hon. Bu’n drafodaeth bwysig ac, yn naturiol, mae nifer o Aelodau sydd yn cynrychioli ardaloedd gwledig wedi siarad â chryn emosiwn. Mae’n bwysig ein bod yn siarad ac yn lleisio’n barn, ac mae’n briodol, o bryd i’w gilydd, wneud hynny ag emosiwn.

Cynrychiolaf innau ardal sydd wedi dioddef yn enbyd o’r haint hwn. Yr wyf yn adnabod nifer o deuluoedd o ffermwyr ym Môn yn bersonol. Gwn eu bod yn mynd drwy wewyr a loes difrifol yn sgîl yr hyn sydd wedi digwydd iddynt hwy a’u ffermydd. Yr wyf yn siŵr bod y Cynulliad wedi cydymdeimlo â hwy yn y dyddiau anodd y maent wedi eu hwynebu yn ystod yr wythnosau diwethaf.

Mae teimlad cyffredinol yn yr etholaeth yr wyf yn ei chyrychioli—a rhannaf y teimlad hwnnw—y byddai’n gwbl anghyfrifol pe byddai’r Llywodraeth yn Llundain yn penderfynu galw etholiad ar yr adeg hon. Câi hynny ei ystyried yn gwbl ansensitif.

Er bod ffermwyr Môn wedi cefnogi popeth y mae’r Llywodraeth yn y Cynulliad wedi ei wneud hyd yma, maent yn bryderus ynglŷn â’r oedi rhwng yr adeg pan dybir bod y clwyf ar y tir a’r adeg pan fo’r anifeiliaid yn cael eu difa. Mae Carwyn wedi ei gwneud yn glir y gwneir popeth o fewn gallu’r swyddogion i sicrhau bod hynny’n digwydd yn fuan, ond mae pryder ynglŷn â’r oedi sydd wedi digwydd.

Mae posibilirwydd cryf y gallai’r haint hwn fod wedi ei gario ar y gwynt yn y gwyntoedd cryf diweddar yn ardaloedd Môn ac Eryri. Gobeithiaf y byddwn yn gallu symud ymlaen yn gynt, rhag ofn i’r haint ledaenu i’r mynyddoedd.

Mae Carwyn yn cydnabod bod yr argyfwng yng Nghymru yn fwy difrifol nag yr oedd yn 1967. Ategaf eiriau Glyn Davies. Er bod cefnogaeth gyffredinol ymysg y diwydiant amaethyddiaeth a’r ffermwyr i’r camau y mae’r Llywodraeth wedi eu cymryd hyd yma, ni allwn gymryd y gefnogaeth honno yn ganiataol. Ategaf yn gryf y pwynt a wnaeth Glyn. Gobeithiaf y bydd modd i Carwyn, ac o bosibl, i Brif Weinidog Cymru, wneud popeth o fewn eu gallu i sicrhau bod ffermwyr yn deall pam y gwneir y penderfyniadau hyn. Sylweddolwn y’u gwneir ar sail wyddonol ond mae’n bwysig ein bod yn cario’r diwydiant amaethyddiaeth gyda ni ar bob penderfyniad. Os bydd y Llywodraeth yn ystyried difa anifeiliaid mewn unrhyw gylch y tu allan i’r Trallwng, er enghraifft ym Môn, pwysaf ar Carwyn ac eraill i siarad â’r ffermwyr er mwyn egluro’r cefndir, cyn gwneud y penderfyniad.

Cyfeiriaf yn fyr at y cymorth y bydd ei angen ar y diwydiant amaethyddiaeth a’r diwydiant twristiaeth yn sgîl yr hyn sydd wedi digwydd. Mae argyfwng gwirioneddol yn bodoli yn ein cymunedau gwledig. Mae angen pecyn ariannol sylweddol i gefnogi’r diwydiannau hyn a gofynnaf i’r arian hwn fod yn ychwanegol at yr arian yng nghyllideb y Cynulliad. Pwysleisiaf y byddai canran dan fformwla Barnett yn annigonol gan fod Cymru, ar gyfartaledd, yn fwy dibynnol ar y diwydiant amaethyddiaeth a thwristiaeth na gweddill gwledydd Prydain.

Yn y lle cyntaf, gofynnaf i’r tasglu yng Nghymru, mewn cydweithrediad â thasglu’r DU, sicrhau y daw cymorth o’r Cynulliad o safbwynt treth busnes. Hefyd, dylem edrych at y Llywodraeth yn San Steffan i sicrhau canllawiau ynghylch taliadau treth ar werth a threth incwm ac i bwyso ar y banciau i helpu. Pan fydd ar y diwydiant twristiaeth angen arian i hybu’r diwydiant, dylai’r Llywodraeth sicrhau y bydd yr arian yn ychwanegol at yr hyn sydd ganddo ar hyn o bryd. Yr ydym mewn argyfwng ac edrychwn am arweiniad.

Codwyd nifer o bwyntiau yn ystod y ddadl. Dechreuaf gyda’r hyn a ddywedodd Elin ynglŷn â newid yn y polisi gwyddonol. Yr ateb a roddir i’r cwestiwn gan y milfeddygon yw ei bod yn bwysig gwybod am leoliad y clwyf er mwyn gwybod a oedd y clwyf yn lledu i ardaloedd newydd. Rhaid oedd sicrhau eu bod yn gwybod union leoliad yr haint ar y pryd. Erbyn hyn, mae pethau wedi newid, ond gan fod yr amgylchiadau wedi newid hefyd, y mae’n naturiol bod y milfeddygon yn edrych unwaith eto ar eu strategaeth er mwyn sicrhau y daw’r haint o dan relolaeth.

Mick raised a number of points. An open letter has been sent to farmers via the press because we must ensure that everyone gets access to the information at the same time. The letter explains to farmers in north Powys the reasoning behind the slaughter. An information package is being sent out to farmers covering many topics, such as how to obtain licences. The volume of information is such that, although the Assembly gave extra guidelines to the Post Office, distribution outweighs the risk of spreading the disease. The information that went by post is not likely to become out of date quickly. This was the other difficulty that we faced. I have adopted a policy of regular radio broadcasts, and newspaper advertisements and reports. The National Assembly has helplines, the animal health offices have contact telephone numbers, and the farming unions have been helpful. It was even suggested to me yesterday that I had not appeared on television enough over the past three weeks. I am sure that people are fed up of seeing my face on television, but you cannot please everybody.

The incubation period in sheep is 21 days. However, difficulty exists if the disease is being missed in sheep. The incubation period then becomes more irrelevant. That is why we must get to grips with the disease in sheep where the symptoms are being missed. Many Members have asked how many sheep are involved. The latest estimate is 43,500, but that is subject to change. At the moment, that is the best guess. As for what happens to farms with dangerous contacts, once the dangerous contacts are removed from the farms, they can return to normal, more or less. They are not in the same category as farms with suspect cases or confirmed cases, as I understand it.

On valuers and contractors, we try to use contractors where we can, but how that is done is a matter for the vets on the ground. Farmers have a choice of which valuers to use, so it is a matter for them if they do not use local valuers. On the tack situation that has been raised many times by different speakers, we are ready to implement a system of issuing licences to farmers to move animals that are on tack, in appropriate situations. We are also ready to implement a welfare disposal scheme that we hope will also apply to farmers who have animals within infected areas and cannot be moved. We hope to finalise that as soon as possible today or tomorrow.

The lack of disinfecting centres is holding us up at the moment. To obtain a licence, the farmer must specify a disinfecting centre that will be used to disinfect the vehicles that will carry the animals. I appeal particularly to marts in north Wales to come forward to be used as disinfecting centres. I hope that that message is heard, as we do not have enough in the north at present. This would not jeopardise applications to become collection centres in the future in any way. There is no connection between the two. If marts have the appropriate facilities, I appeal to them to come forward and offer the much needed facility for farmers.

As for the Army, it is not being used for enforcement purposes. It will only help out where necessary.

Nick referred to the rural taskforce. It has been set up at UK level and in many ways it is a replica of our rural partnership. I am happy that we are working well with the UK taskforce and that a taskforce will be set up in Wales.

The veterinary advice on the Carlisle versus Cardiff match was that an urban to urban movement was not a problem.

Guidelines have gone out today stating that there is no reason to keep footpaths closed where there is no veterinary reason to do so. That point must be emphasised. I stress that the guidelines have been drawn up by vets. Alun Cairns made a point about local authorities. Local authorities know their areas better than anyone, they know their footpaths and have a better idea of the detail of the footpath network in their areas. Where they need specific advice, the National Assembly’s door is open.

I know that my five minutes are up, Llywydd, but I have several points.

Thank you.

Soniodd Rhodri Glyn am y cysylltiadau rhwng mart y Trallwng a’r ffermydd. Mae un cysylltiad clir iawn ac eraill lle y mae’r dystiolaeth yn gryf, ond yn amgylchiadol. Wrth edrych ar y dystiolaeth hon, mae’r milfeddygon wedi penderfynu na allwn oedi a bod yn rhaid cael rheolaeth ar y sefyllfa a sicrhau nad yw’r haint yn lledu ymhellach. Byddai dechrau brechu yn dangos bod y frwydr wedi’i cholli.

Alun Cairns raised the issue of access roads. The risk of spreading disease by travelling on metalled roads is almost nil. That is not regarded as a vector for the spread of the disease. Putting disinfectant mats on metalled roads would make no difference. Our experience of disinfectant mats on the Menai and Britannia bridges has shown that they are not effective, as they tear up quickly. I know why that issue has been raised, but they would make minimal difference to the possibility of the disease spreading.

As for animals on common land within areas that are free of the disease, it is important that they are not moved in any way outside the licensing system.

Kirsty raised an important point about the importation of meat into this country. There is no evidence that meat imported in the conventional sense caused this outbreak. There are several possibilities. I do not want to prejudge them, but it could have been an airline meal or it could even have been somebody who travelled from an infected farm abroad to a farm in the UK. There are several possible vectors. They are currently under investigation and we await the result of that investigation. There is nothing peculiar about the United Kingdom’s controls, which made it more likely to develop foot and mouth disease than any other European country. It is sheer bad luck.

You asked about the promotion of Welsh meat in the future. I have already met with Welsh Lamb and Beef Promotions Limited. It intends to target the home market as aggressively as possible until we have access to the overseas markets once again. However, in terms of price competition, our main competitors are the Republic of Ireland and New Zealand, which are free of foot and mouth disease. There is no way that we can consider banning meat imported from those two countries purely on welfare grounds, although I take into account that there have been difficulties in terms of the discovery of specified risk material in imports from the Republic of Ireland. That issue has been taken up by the European Union. However, whether we should import meat in terms of infection and welfare are two different matters and they will be debated in due course. There must be an inquiry and debate as to how exactly the disease came into the UK.

Karen raised the point about Llysfasi. I understand that that is currently under discussion with education officials. Glyn raised the question of slaughtering livestock. I make it clear that we are only considering slaughtering sheep. Cattle will only be slaughtered where they exhibit signs of the disease. It is much easier to spot signs of the disease in cattle than in sheep.

Christine Gwyther raised the point about the Post Office’s objection to disinfectant. I was not aware of that. The Post Office received guidelines from the National Assembly in addition to guidelines from MAFF.

Codais bwynt ynglŷn â maint y difa, a gwnaeth Glyn Davies sylw ar y mater. A allwch chi gadarnhau neu amcangyfrif nifer yr anifeiliaid yr ydym yn sôn amdanynt?

Yr ydym yn siarad am 43,000 o ddefaid.

Glyn made a point about tracing lambs brought back from market by farmers via Welshpool mart. That is not the problem. It is possible to trace the animals that went through the mart that day. The problem arises from the private deals that take place. They are not illegal, but together with the size of the markets, for which there are no records, they cause problems. Those private deals—and there is nothing wrong with them—make it more difficult to trace the sheep. That is why according to the vets, action such as this must be taken, in view of the links that have already been established.

I understand that there will be an announcement in Parliament this afternoon about the implementation of a package of measures to help the rural economy. We all await that announcement with interest. In terms of a rural recovery plan, I announced last week that I will form a working group from the rural partnership. The terms of reference will be announced tomorrow. It will meet as soon as possible and its key task will be to prepare a rural recovery plan to help the wider rural economy bounce back. That will be done in tandem and full consultation with the UK taskforce. The UK and Wales are a team on this issue. There is no question of any division or difficulty. The disease knows no boundaries and we are working well together.

I wish to respond to Delyth Evans’s point. I recognise the grave difficulties currently faced by the rural economy. Everything that can be done to help the rural economy recover will be done.